Improved subaqueous drilling-machine



w\ anni i @time SA-MUEL LEWIS, OF BROOKLYN, E. D., NEW YORK.

Letters PatentNo. 85,597, dated January 5, 1869.

IMPROVED SUBAQUEO'US DRILLING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

drawings, forming part of this specification.

' This invention consists in apparatus designed to sim plify the operation of drilling rock under water, as described in my present patent, whereby the telescopic still-water dam is .dispensed with, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings- 'Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus, taken on the line :1: a; of iig. 2, showing the boat, iioat, raft, or" staging on which the actuatingpower or mechanism is placed; also the drills, tubes, spuds, or vertical anchors, chains, guide-plates, frictionrollers, Btc.

Figure 2is a plan or face view of the movable guiderack, as seen from the red line y y of iig. 1, showing the three guide-plates, and the cross-pieces forming the rack, and connecting the lower ends of the spuds or anchors, the 'iction-rollers on each side of each spud, and theapparatus for the drill-tubos, Ste.

Similar letters of reference'indicate corresponding parts.

. l have already received Letters Patent of the United States for a portable andadjustable still-water dam, issued on the 28th day of July, 1868, and having continued my experiments upon subaqueous drilling and blasting-apparatus, have come to the conclusion that, for some situations at least, an apparatus far less costly than the subject of said patent, can be constructed, without detriment to the efficiency of the mechanism.

For instance, the telescopic dam described in saidl patent was designed mainly for the convenience of the diver, enabling him to descend and insert the charges, iu all states of the tide. But considering that not only a row of drills may be substituted forone, but that a number of rows of drills may be used instead of a single row, the present applicant Ahas concluded that the multiplied rows more than compensated for the absence of the telescopic dam, since, in the place of going down 4at any state of the tide to insert o ne row of charges, the

the mechanism patented as aforesaid.

In iig. 1, 1 is the boat, float, raft, or staging, through which the spuds, or vertical anchors, marked 2, pass, as shown, without scaling, the latter being shown in an application now before the otlicc.

The figures 9 represent outer tubes, which venclose the drill-tubes, and pass from the bottom to the deck of the boat or raft, being so attached at their lower ends, as to prevent the ingress of water in the case of using a boat or other hollow structure.

10 10 arc passages through the boat, for the chains 8 8, and are sealed against the water in a similar manner.

2 represents the spuds, or vertical anchors, ou which the staging, or raft, or boat is brought to bear by mechanism, an application for a patent on which is now before theoifice the pins marked a, being merely to hold the apparatus in position for handling.

The c hains marked 8 are the means by which the guide-plates 3, or guide-rack, are elevated or lowered by windlasses on deck.

The marks 6 indicate the drill-tubes, which 'play freely in the outer tubes 9 9, through theraft or boat 1, and in corresponding apertures in the guide-plates 3 below.

lhe figures 7 indicate the drills, which .ay freely in the tubes, andare connected with the poY er by means not necessary to be shown here.

'13 is a representation of the means of keeping the tubes suspended, when they are raised for the purpose of removal, or any other, by the set-screw 14 working into the collar 13, as shown, it being understood that each of the drill-tubes is to be thus provided.

The longitudinal plates, marked 3 3 3, (fig. 2,) are for the purpose of guiding or retaining in position the lower ends of the drill-tubes 6. They are perforated and attached to the cross-pieces 5 5, as shown; the said cross-pieces and the central longitudinal guide-plate 3, having friction-rollers 12 12 and chains 8 8 attached,

for the purpose of operating the l'aclncomposed of the guidc-plates 3 and the crosspieoes 5, with the greatest possible ease.

The operation of the mechanism will be as follows:

The raft or boat 1 is towed or self-propelled to the place of operation; the spuds, or vertical anchors 2, are allowedl to slide downward until they touch the bottomj; then, by the mechanism aforesaid, described in mypending application, the raft or boat is raised on thc spuds and secured in the desired position. The tubes 6 arenext set free by a turn on the set-screw 14, until they rest respectively on the rock, and the drill in each tube is allowed to sink to the same depth. The guide-rack 43 5 is then lowered to a close proximity to the face of of discharging a blast, or a change of location, the chains 8 are shortened by the windlasses, and the guide-plates or rackraised to the bottom of the boat or rait, after which'the tubes are raised and secured, as before described; the drills being secured in a like raised position by inea-ns not necessary to specify.

When the drilling is completed, ready for the insertion ofthe charges, seid charges are inserted, either by adiveizdeseending for the purpose, or by inserting,` the cartridges through the tubes i'roin the deck, after withdrawing, the drills for that purpose.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim new, and desire. to secure by Letters Patentl.. The guide-rack, consisting,- of the longitudinal plates 3, the cross-pieces 5 5, connecting and embracing the lower ends of the vertical anchors 2, and the friction-rollers in the end ot' ezieh, constructed, connected, and operating substantially in the manner :nid for the purposes speeilied.

2. The tubes 6 :is guides for the drills, and a protection against the pressure oi' the current, when combined with the guide-rack, claimed above, composed The above speeiioa-tion of my invention signed by f me, this 15th (luy of October, 1868.

SAMUEL- LEWIS. Witnesses:

FRANK BLooxLE'Y, A E. GREENE COLLINS. 

